Wineland earned the event’s “Knockout of the Night” award, Roller
picked up the “Submission of the Night” bonus, and Pettis and Henderson
earned “Fight of the Night” honors.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) learned of the bonus winners and award amounts in the night’s post-fight press conference.

WEC 53 took place at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Ariz., and the night’s main card aired on Versus.
The event is the final one in WEC history; the promotion merges with the UFC for 2011.

Wineland, the WEC’s first-ever bantamweight champ, earned his award with a first-round body-slam KO, but it was followed by some scary moments. Opponent Ken Stone was knocked unconscious by the blow and was rolled out of the cage on a stretch showing little if any movement. Luckily, a report that soon came from the hospital that the WEC newcomer was in good condition and actually headed back to the arena.

Roller picked up his bonus with a first-round rear-naked choke of former lightweight champ Jamie Varner. After keeping the fight standing early and eating some blows, the former NCAA Division wrestling standout scored a takedown and quickly secured a rear-naked choke just four minutes into the fight.

Pettis and Henderson, meanwhile, fought in the WEC’s final matchup. Pettis scored a unanimous-decision victory over the ex-champ to claim the lightweight belt and secure an immediate UFC title shot. The fight, though, long will be remembered for Pettis’ gravity-defying kick in which he walked and pushed off the fencing to floor Henderson with a right kick to the face. The highlight-reel knockdown likely secured the fifth and deciding round for the new champ, who earned the decision win via scores of 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46.

For the latest on WEC 53, stay tuned to the MMA Events section of MMAjunkie.com.

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